poem: jem mabalot
I Hope To See
Inside me is a battle, me against myself
A battle that wages in my heart and mind
Crossing swords are acceptance and rejection
Every clash wearies my soul, this battle of attrition
All my life I’ve been yearning for a resolution
Which for twenty-three years I thought was an illusion
What is before me I cannot see
But the source of despondency is clear to me
Amidst this battle so dire and murky
Is blindness that causes uncertainty
The battle within me, the future beyond
Filled with tomorrows of ambiguity
Every step I take as I fight with disability
Feels like a war, misery versus positivity
Yet ignited within me is a flicker of hope
Its flames growing stronger and lighting my way
It fuels my strength to fight and pray
That maybe there would be a day
When what I see beyond me is victory
about the writer: jem mabalot
Jem Mabalot is a fresh graduate of the College of Charleston with a B.A. in International Studies. Currently, she writes for EP-Magazine and teaches ESL to children online. A lover of languages and different cultures, Jem studies Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin in her free time. She will soon launch Jem’s View, a YouTube channel that will provide a landscape of cultural perspectives, language learning resources, and gems for a positive outlook in life. Through this, Jem hopes to inspire and lead the youth from different backgrounds and abilities to pursue their dream.
